SW News: Defending the unborn, a group of Republican attorneys general in the USA has affirmed to "act decisively" if the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) uses a new rule allowing abortions in states violating the restrictions on performing the same. Led by Mississippi attorney general Lynn Fitch, a group of 14 other attorneys general wrote a letter to VA Secretary Denis McDonough on Thursday.

The letter addressed the Department of Veterans Affairs rule that permits VA hospitals to perform abortions in certain cases for military veterans and family members. This includes conditions such as rape, incest, or when the mother's life is at risk. The attorneys general told the secretary they would not permit the use of the rule in the states, which took effect in September.

Following the Dobbs decision earlier this year, the Supreme Court stated that there is no right to abortion in the US Constitution and that the states have the right to outlaw or restrict the procedure. However, the department issued a rule providing exclusions for veterans and beneficiaries.

Through the ruling, the Department of Veterans Affairs removed "the exclusion on abortion counseling and establish exceptions to the exclusion on abortions in the medical benefits package for veterans and their beneficiaries who receive care set forth in that package."

In late September, the VA carried out its first abortion under the new law. The revised law was implemented following a request from two dozen Senate Democrats who disagreed with the claim that the agency's provision of abortions violated federal law.

The other states that signed the letter include Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and West Virginia.

All states whose attorneys general signed the letter, except Florida and Nebraska, have outlawed abortion completely or almost entirely due to the Dobbs ruling, even if some states' pro-life policies are still being challenged in court.

Reportedly, Nebraska forbids abortions after 22 weeks of gestation, whereas Florida outlaws them after 15 weeks.